Punta Arenas, Chile

Since leaving Ushuaia we have sailed almost continuously through fjords and channels while being surrounded by high mountains, glaciers and rugged islands. The area is unbelievably beautiful but the weather is very inhospitable and has ranged from a few degrees above zero C to 12 or so. Also, the weather changes frequently from sun to cloud, calm to wind and rain - not at all pleasant.

Glacial ice flowing into the ocean

Hanging glacier

Hand of the Devil - peaks at right of picture

 



Punta Arenas is in a sheltered location in the Straits of Magellan. The strait, is a safe passage linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It was discovered in 1520 by, and named after, Ferdinand Magellan the Portuguese explorer.
Punta Arenas' glory has faded from being a busy port (prior to opening of Panama canal) to being mainly a supply station for Antarctic explorers and the entry point for tourists visiting Chilean Patagonia.

We took the opportunity to visit a local Magellanic penguin colony - most were  out fishing but the few that were home were more than happy to pose for pictures but not too close please

Cute little guys about 16" tall

 

After returning to town a leisurely stroll and wandering took up most of the remainder of the day

City Hall

Cathedral

Town Square park

 Street dogs are seen in almost every town and city in South America. Although the dogs do not belong to anyone, they are not at all vicious and appear to spend all of their day either sleeping or scrounging for food.

This was not a warm day and the dogs were taking full advantage of the suns' rays.

Don't bother me "I'm busy"

One of the few cats (perhaps because of the many dogs) we have seen and this one took a real fancy to Christine. Aww, can I take it home?

Mural remembering the busy port up to the early 1900s